One of the world’s most recognisable automotive companies, BMW, has announced that it will be joining the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2018.

As part of its global motorsport strategy, BMW will enter the LMGTE category alongside current prestigious manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Ford, and Porsche. Its entry in the world championship will also mark a return to the cornerstone of the WEC, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, for the first time since 2011.

BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt commented: “Starting with the 2018 season, we want to further expand our activities in GT racing and compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship… This obviously also includes our return to Le Mans, which we are particularly looking forward to. The way the WEC has developed so well makes us confident that there is a big future for GT racing.”

By the way , BMW has yet to reveal details the replacement for the M6 GT LM with which it competes in IMSA with the Rahal team.
Permission was granted by IMSA and BMW's rivals in the GT Le Mans class to allow it to compete with an upgraded version of its M6 GT3, which means it is not eligible for the WEC.

Options could include an M-brand car based on the common chassis platform shared by the 5, 6 and 7-series cars and the forthcoming Z5, which replaces the Z4 and is being co-developed with Toyota.

I do recall seeing a rendering or some other illustration of a so-called M8 on Facebook on one of the racing pages I follow. It looks like it could be a mid-engined car. Overall, the rendering looks kinda weird, but it's just an illustration:

it's a puzzler isn't it. They still don't really have a suitable car that competes in the market with the others in the class . Hence the M3 GT2 requiring all those waivers, as they had the same problem back then.

I'm a BMW fan, so am pleased to see them back, with whatever it's going to be.

I'd prefer GTE to be for real cars, so would rather they didn't do what Ford just did with the GT, but since that's a technique that obviously works, they may be very tempted to do it.

it's a puzzler isn't it. They still don't really have a suitable car that competes in the market with the others in the class . Hence the M3 GT2 requiring all those waivers, as they had the same problem back then.

I'm a BMW fan, so am pleased to see them back, with whatever it's going to be.

I'd prefer GTE to be for real cars, so would rather they didn't do what Ford just did with the GT, but since that's a technique that obviously works, they may be very tempted to do it.

@outnumbered

Same here , I am BMW fans too ! Speaking about BMW WEC GTE in 2018 they ought to used next generation of BMW M6 GTE in 2018 season

Audi competes with the R8, Mercedes competes with the AMG GT line, and where does that leave BMW? BMW has no $100-$200k 2 seater sportscar.
It's a void that would make business sense to fill at any moment so I'd like to see something all new.

Maybe there is no "Z5" but instead an "M coupe" successor. Perhaps there really is no Supra successor either, but something else entirely.

Audi competes with the R8, Mercedes competes with the AMG GT line, and where does that leave BMW? BMW has no $100-$200k 2 seater sportscar.
It's a void that would make business sense to fill at any moment so I'd like to see something all new.

Maybe there is no "Z5" but instead an "M coupe" successor. Perhaps there really is no Supra successor either, but something else entirely.

@Articus
Me too. I think they used next gen of BMW M6 as the GTE car . As next gen of BMW M6 will be sports car designed to lock out the Porsche 911